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Kim Hughes, the former Australian captain, says Cricket Australia (CA) should impose a lengthy suspension on disgraced captain Steve Smith as the ugly fallout of the ball tampering scandal continues.
CA is currently conducting an internal investigation into the Smith-led ploy to alter the condition of the ball in the third Test against South Africa. Smith has been given a one-Test suspension by the ICC and Cameron Bancroft, who carried out the misguided scam on day three, was fined. Smith and vice-captain David Warner were stood down from their leadership positions with wicketkeeper Tim Paine appointed interim captain.
However, CA is expected to be far harsher on the culprits when its findings are announced on Tuesday night (South African time). According to numerous Cricbuzz sources, expectations are that Smith and Warner - who is also believed to have played a key role - are likely to receive 12-month bans which means they would miss the Australian summer featuring the crux four-Test series against India. But they would return in time for next year's World Cup and Ashes series both held in the UK.
Hughes, who captained 28 Tests from 1979-84, said Smith deserved to be strongly punished. "The captain takes full responsibility and this was a pre-meditated tactic by the captain and whomever else," he told Cricbuzz. "It was disgraceful and cricket will play a big price with Cricket Australia in the midst of negotiating a new television deal. The image of the Baggy Green has been tarnished."
Hughes said a lengthy ban would be beneficial for the humiliated players. "A 12-month ban would be good for the players and give them a chance to get away and stay away from all of this," he said. "If the investigation reveals there are only two or three of them caught up in it, then bridges could be broken (with the playing group)."
The 64-year-old also took issue with James Sutherland's response to the saga. The long-time CA chief executive admitted in his press conference on Sunday (March 25) that he hadn't spoken to Smith in the immediate aftermath of the explosive revelations. Sutherland is expected to arrive in South Africa on Tuesday.
"James Sutherland needed to speak to Smith immediately and ask three questions," Hughes said. "One, who was at the meeting (to hatch the plan)? Second, how did Bancroft get involved? Third, were any coaches involved?
"It wasn't well handled and I would have thought there will be serious questions (on Sutherland) amid the clean out," he added.
The severity of the punishment for Bancroft, Australia's most inexperienced player, is harder to gauge and he could be granted some leeway, according to sources. Hughes said his fellow West Australian had a strong reputation in cricket circles.
"He's (Bancroft) known as a genuine guy," he said. "His attitude is sensational and he is the type of player that wants to do the team thing. The captain threw Bancroft under the bus."
Hughes hoped there would be a silver lining amid the fiasco and a concerted effort to clean up the game's overall image. "Hopefully this is a watershed moment for cricket," he said. "The umpires have been poor for a while and it's time for them to take control of the game."
(CRICBUZZ)
